Bengaluru: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president B S Yeddyurappa said on Thursday the BJP activists would intensify agitation against the state government in the coming days.
The BJP observed Tipu Jayanti as a black day in front of Town Hall in Bengaluru by staging a protest against the state government celebrating Tipu Jayanti. Speaking on the occasion, Yeddyurappa said the agitation was not against Muslims but against Tipu. “The BJP is ready fight with government on behalf of common people, Dalits and farmers. I am advising the government to send all the prisoners home and keep all prisons in the state empty since we are ready to go to jail in the interest of the people,’’ Yeddyurappa said.
The BJP state president questioned the state government’s logic in celebrating Tipu Jayanti when around 2,000 farmers had committed suicide due to the drought conditions in the state. “The state government, instead of announcing special packages for the benefit of farmers, is celebrating Tipu Jayanti by spending crores of rupees. I don’t know how the state government will justify its decision to celebrate Tipu Jayanti when majority of people across the state oppose the celebration of Tipu Jayanti,’’ he said.
Stating that many documents available to prove Tipu as a traitor and communalist, he advises the chief minister to read the book on Tipu, written by M Chidananda Murthy, a researcher and writer, to know the truth. “Seventeen activists of BJP and RSS were killed in the state. I have submitted a memorandum to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh requesting him to probe the murders cases by National Investigation Agency. The NIA probe will begin soon,’’ he said.
Speaking on the occasion, former deputy chief minister R Ashok blamed Siddaramaiah government for trying to create tension between the communities in society. “Kannada Culture department is to develop Kannada and culture in the state. I do not know what it has to do with Tipu Jayanti. By organising Tipu Jayanti celebrations, the Kannada and Culture department has done injustice to Kannada language. The state government is spending Rs 10 crore for Tipu Jayanti. Chief Minister Siddramaiah wants to make Tipu hero but he will end up as a big zero,’’ Ashok said.
